Series Preview: Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros 8/19-8/21

The Boston Red Sox will take on the Houston Astros this week for a three-game series. The Red Sox are coming off a series split with the Orioles while the Astros are coming off a series win over the White Sox.

Boston Red Sox (65-58) vs. Houston Astros (67-56)

Game 1:

Date: Monday, August 19
Time: 8:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Game 2:

Date: Tuesday, August 20
Time: 8:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Game 3:

Date: Wednesday, August 21
Time: 2:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Probable Starting Pitchers

Game 1: Tanner Houck (8-8, 3.01 ERA) vs. Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 4.49 ERA)

Houck gets the series started he is 8-8 with a 3.01 ERA, a 3.27 FIP, a 1.15 WHIP, a 2.5 BB/9, and a 7.8 K/9 in 146.2 innings. He faced the Astros on the 9th going six innings giving up one run on four hits; he walked three and struck out one. The Red Sox are 13-11 when he starts. Kikuchi will get the ball for Houston making his fourth start for them, he is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA, a 2.92 FIP, a 0.96 WHIP, a 3.2 BB/9, and a 13.0 K/9 in 16.2 innings. In his last start, he went 5.2 innings giving up one run on three hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out five. The Astros are 3-0 when he starts.

Game 2: Nick Pivetta (5-8, 4.49 ERA) vs. Ronel Blanco (9-6, 2.89 ERA)

Pivetta gets the middle game he is 5-8 with a 4.49 ERA, a 4.18 FIP, a 1.13 WHIP, a 2.2 BB/9, and an 11.0 K/9 in 100.1 innings. In his last five starts, he is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 25 innings. The Red Sox are 10-9 when he starts. Blanco goes for Houston he is 9-6 with a 2.89 ERA, a 4.25 FIP, a 1.02 WHIP, a 3.4 BB/9, and an 8.7 K/9 in 134 innings. He is 0-2 in his last five starts with a 4.32 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts in 25 innings. The Astros are 16-7 when he starts.

Game 3: Cooper Criswell (5-4, 4.56 ERA) vs. Spencer Arrighetti (5-11, 5.20 ERA)

Criswell gets the finale he is 5-4 with a 4.56 ERA, a 3.86 FIP, a 1.36 WHIP, a 2.5 BB/9, and a 6.8 K/9 in 75 innings. This will be his first start since July 23rd in which he went seven shutout innings giving up six hits; he walked one and struck out four in a win. The Red Sox are 9-4 when he starts. The Astros will have Arrighetti on the mound making his 23rd start he is 5-11 with a 5.20 ERA, a 4.31 FIP, a 1.46 WHIP, a 4.2 BB/9, and a 10.9 K/9 in 110.2 innings. In his last five starts, he is 1-4 with a 4.11 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. The Astros are 8-14 when he starts.

Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros Leaders

Red Sox:

AVG – Rafael Devers – .299
HR – Rafael Devers – 27
RBI – Rafael Devers – 77
IP – Tanner Houck – 146.2
ERA – Tanner Houck – 3.01
K – Kutter Crawford – 133

Astros:

AVG – Yordan Alvarez – .306
HR – Yordan Alvarez – 25
RBI – Yainer Diaz – 69
IP – Framber Valdez – 137.2
ERA – Ronel Blanco – 2.89
K – Hunter Brown – 145

Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros Numbers

Red Sox

AVG: .262 (2)
OPS: .769 (3)
R: 614 (4)
HR: 155 (6)
ERA: 4.15 (19)
K: 1046 (17)
WHIP: 1.25 (15)

Astros

AVG: .260 (3)             
OPS: .739 (10)
R: 565 (12)
HR: 146 (12)
ERA: 3.83 (11)
K: 1122 (4)
WHIP: 1.26 (16)